Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar


The new UN Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has called for the immediate release of two journalists imprisoned in Myanmar.

A statement by Bachelet said the conviction of Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone "sends a message to all journalists in Myanmar that they cannot operate fearlessly, but must rather make a choice to either self-censor or risk prosecution."

The journalists, who both work for Reuters, were sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison after being found to have breached Myanmar's Official Secrets Act. The pair had been investigating the killing of 10 Rohingya in a village in Rakhine state. They claim they were arrested after being framed by police.

The office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights is expected to deliver a report about freedom of expression in Myanmar in coming days.


'"A blow to press freedom": world reacts to jailing of Reuters journalists in Myanmar', The Guardian

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